
March 1, 2009
May 17, 2012
Mystery (Screen Daily review)
Mystery
17 May, 2012
By Mike Goodridge
Dir: Lou Ye. China-France. 2012. 98mins
Lou Ye’s return to sanctioned film-making in China is anything but an artistic or thematic compromise. A twisted and dark portrait of the amoral rich, corrupt police and sexually promiscuous in the country today, it is based on a selection of stories culled from the Internet that reflect contemporary society. Although the central story leans towards the melodramatic, Lou’s confident blend of realism and poetry keeps it on track.
It’s rare to see an official Chinese movie that takes such a stark look at life today. Set in the rain-drenched city of Wuhan, Lou shows us an urban world of web and text-obsessed people, fast cars, designer fashions and Starbucks that could be any western city. Whether it will score a Chinese release is yet to be determined, but sales agent Wild Bunch should make more robust international sales on Mystery than the two films he made in exile – Spring Fever and Love & Bruises.
The film opens with a dramatic prologue in which two arrogant young rich kids race each other in cars through a tunnel just outside the city. Coming out of the tunnel, one of the cars mows down and kills a young woman walking in the driving rain and ploughs into a truck.
The story subsequently calms somewhat, as Lu Jie (Hao Lei) is befriended in her daughter’s playground by Sang Qi (Qi Xi) and her son and the two decide to have playdates in the future. Over coffee one day, Sang Qi confides in Lu Jie that she believes that her husband is cheating on her, the very same moment that Lu Jie looks out of the window and sees her own husband Yongzhao (Qin Hao) walking into the hotel opposite with a young girl. A distraught Lu Jie waits for them to finish their assignation and follows the young girl. This young girl, it emerges, is the girl killed in the pre-title sequence.
As Lu Jie faces up to her husband’s apparently rampant infidelity, the police are persuaded by the rich parents of the young men not to press criminal charges over the death of the girl. Her mother is paid off and only one cop who coincidentally used to date the dead girl presses for further investigation.
There’s sexual deceit, revenge, blackmail, and more murder before the film finishes, and along the way, virtually all the characters have sacrificed any sense of decency in the quest for material riches and sexual fulfillment.
Lou uses handheld camera to visceral effect but he is not beyond striking visual effects and a penchant for hard rain to heighten the drama.
Production companies: Dream Author Pictures, Les Films du Lendemain
International sales: Wild Bunch, www.wildbunch.biz
Producers: Lou Ye, Chen Xi, Nai An, Kristina Larsen
Screenplay: Mei Feng, Yu Fan, Lou Ye
Cinematography: Zeng Jian
Editor: Simon Jacquet
Production designer: Peng Shaoying
Music: Peyman Yazdanian
Main cast:: Hao Lei, Qin Hao, Qi Xi, Zu Feng, Zhu Yawen, Chang Fangyuan, Qu Ying
May 16, 2012
May 16, 2012 [HKMDB Daily News]
Gut-wrenching violence, classical music, daddy issues and Lolita complexes are grist for director Roy Chow Hin Yeung’s grisly mill in “Nightfall,” a Hong Kong thriller with a strong noirish flavor that stops short of lurid, thanks to the seasoned cast’s solid perfs.
John WOO will direct Day of the Beast, a remake of SUZUKI Seijun’s yakuza classic Youth of the Beast (1963).
The Chinese martial-arts film “Wu Dang” is set to debut at the 65th Cannes International Film Festival
Vincent Zhao
Yang Mi (Sina)
As a part of the “Four plus One” project produced by Pang Ho-Cheung, the movie tells a comedic story, which is set in Beijing, about a man and woman who can’t remember the night after a drinking binge. In that one night, they lose a company car and 300,000 yuan in cash, and then the two trace back their steps to try to figure out what happened.
Zhang Jingchu with an alpaca in “Lacuna”
Shawn Yue shares a whiff of alpaca with Zhang Jingchu
An alpaca, a cat and a frog provide important clues to discovering what happened that drunken night.
“Lacuna” posters
“11 Flowers” revolves around the memory of an 11-year-old boy who witnesses a murder and attempts to catch the criminal.
Producer and actor Wong Bak-Ming, director Vincent Kok and actors Raymond Lam, Ronald Cheng, Teresa Mo, Lynn Hung and Karena Ng attended the event.
Director Vincent Kok
Raymond Wong
Ronald Cheng, Karena Ng (Sina), 2
The film features actors from the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan, including Francis Ng, Simon Yam, Zhang Zhen (Chang Chen), Song Jia, Chen Chong (Joan Chen) and Janice Man.
The film depicts a series of comical incidents which occur between 3 pairs of lovers on an island named Re Ai Dao, or Hot Love Island. The couples experience a number of misunderstandings and setbacks in pursuit of a happy ending. [Filmed back in 2010, it might be a hint that the film's a stinker.]
Francis Ng and Song Jia play husband and wife
Simon Yam
Francis Ng
Joan Chen, Simon Yam (Sina), 2, 3, 4
Zhou Xun
The production side of the fantasy movie “Painted Skin 2″ released a batch of still photos featuring actor Chen Kun in the movie
Chen Kun (Sina)
Jackie Chan, Fan Bingbing, Zhou Xun and Gu Changwei are expected to be present at the film event, along with other popular Chinese actors such as Yang Mi, Tong Dawei and Feng Shaofeng.
The 25-minute “Walker”, directed by Tsai Ming-liang, has been one of the most hotly debated movies on Youku since it debuted in late April, receiving nearly 20,000 comments so far.
CNA: Andy Lau confirms birth of baby girl in pensive message to fans
MSN: Nicholas Tse and Cecilia Cheung to be business partners?
Even though their divorce will be finalised this month, the pair’s shared love for food might see them forming a new kind of partnership
MSN: Nicholas Tse’s family of four celebrates Quintus Tse’s birthday
In other related news, Nicholas appeared on last week’s episode of America’s Next Top Model where he left a deep impression on the contestants
MSN: Miriam Yeung worried about premature birth
MSN: Are Aaron Kwok and Lynn Hung finally getting married?
Rumour has it that the couple will be tying the knot next month to bring good luck to the actress’ family
Nightfall (Variety review)
By MAGGIE LEE
Nightfall
An Irresistible Films, Edko Films, Sil-Metropole Organization, Film Development Fund of Hong Kong presentation of an Edko Films production. (International sales: Edko Films, Hong Kong.) Produced by Bill Kong, Ivy Ho. Executive producers Bill Kong, Song Dai, Ryuhei Chiba, Hugh Simon. Co-producer, Fan Kim Hung. Co-executive producers, Ren Yue, Cheung Hong-tat. Directed by Roy Chow Hin Yeung. Screenplay, Christine To Chi-long.
With: Nick Cheung, Simon Yam, Janice Man, Shawn Dou, Kay Tse, Michael Wong, Candice Yu. (Cantonese, English dialogue)
Gut-wrenching violence, classical music, daddy issues and Lolita complexes are grist for director Roy Chow Hin Yeung’s grisly mill in “Nightfall,” a Hong Kong thriller with a strong noirish flavor that stops short of lurid, thanks to the seasoned cast’s solid perfs. Chow’s slick if unremarkable helming shows visible improvement from his out-of-left-field debut, “Murderer,” though his repeat collaborator, scribe Christine To Chi-long, has swung from that film’s gag-worthy implausibility to its opposite extreme, belaboring a plot that’s perfectly tenable yet predictable every step of the way. Pic should slot easily into Asian genre fests and ancillary.
Echoes of Park Chan-wook’s “Oldboy” linger in “Nightfall,” opening with a staggeringly vicious prison fight in which inmate Eugene Wong (Nick Cheung) puts up a brave struggle but is outnumbered and mercilessly beaten. Later, he is released after serving a 20-year sentence, and immediately takes up spying on Zoe Tsui (actress-model Janice Man), a piano student whose father, Han (Michael Wong), is a renowned opera singer.
Renting a shack directly across from the Tsuis’ isolated country mansion, Eugene uses bugging devices to discover that Han is a volatile, abusive father. When Han is found murdered in a gruesome manner, inspector George Lam (Simon Yam) identifies Eugene as the prime suspect.
The pic’s Chinese title, “Big Hunt Down,” coupled with the gripping prologue, dangles expectations of the kind of propulsive, hard-boiled actioner in the darkly stylized mold of Dante Lam or Soi Cheang, or a Hong Kong rendition of the “Bourne” series. “Nightfall” turns out to be neither. The first chase scene doesn’t even happen until the 40-minute mark; an impressively maniacal mano-and-mano inside a cable car occurs 70 minutes into the film.
Essentially a drama-driven whodunit, the pic draws interesting parallels between George’s and Eugene’s respective pasts and their astute yet driven personalities, deepening the detective’s increasingly ambivalent role as the ex-con’s hunter and defender. However, the exposition lags, overstaying its welcome with a cumbersome crime-scene re-enactment accompanied by a long spiel that dryly clarifies every point.
Cheung’s role capitalizes on the thesp’s popular, paradoxical screen image as a psycho with heart, most memorably in “The Beast Stalker.” The fact that Eugene has a speech impediment and is a lone wolf and peeping Tom reps a formidable challenge for Cheung. Deprived of dialogue and the chance to interact with most of the other thesps, he nonetheless brings emotional heft to his bursts of violence.
Yam provides a subtly intense dramatic anchor as the story’s moral center. His scenes with Cheung are little more than staring contests, but they simmer with tension, while George’s partnership with junior detective Ying (singer Kay Tse) generates some playful and romantic vibes that could have been further developed to enrich the main story.
In brief flashbacks as the 19-year-old Eugene, Shawn Dou (”Under the Hawthorn Tree”) manages to channel the 40-year-old protag’s angst-filled expressions and body language despite the lack of physical resemblance. With her porcelain doll features and fragile, frightened look, Man fits her role and contributes to the disturbing prurience of Zoe’s exchanges with her father; however, the actress doesn’t have enough screen presence to carry the film as its chief catalyst and female protag.
Ardy Lam’s fluid lensing delivers crisp images of pristine natural scenery (something of a rarity for Hong Kong-set pics) and glittering neon-lit panoramas of the city by night; however, a consistent visual tone is absent, due to the jarring alternation between heavily saturated and garishly desaturated color textures in interior scenes. Sound is exceptionally clean and resonant, while composer Shigeru Umebayashi (”Trishna,” “In the Mood for Love,”) seamlessly shifts among edgy cello music, plaintive piano notes and sweeping orchestral melodies, repping the pic’s biggest treat.
Camera (color, widescreen, HD-to-35mm), Ardy Lam; editor, Cheung Ka-fai; music, Shigeru Umebayashi; art director, Wong Bing-yiu; costume designer, Phoebe Wong; sound (Dolby Digital) Kinson Tsang; visual effects supervisor, Leung Wai On; action choreographer, Jack Wong Wai-leung. Reviewed at Palace IFC , Hong Kong, March 11, 2012. (In Hong Kong Filmart.) Running time: 107 MIN.
Variety
May 13, 2012
Shanghai Calling (Screen Daily Review)
Shanghai Calling
Cross cultural romcom Shanghai Calling delivers passably cute romance and lightweight comedy and also takes time - a bit too much of it for the film’s own good - to highlight the virtues of China in general and the city of Shanghai in particular. Clearly designed to appeal to both Asian and Western audiences this official US-China co-production is more likely to work for the former than the latter.
Having recently opened the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, the mostly English-language film is currently looking for a US distributor. China Film Group will release in China and prospects seem reasonably good in that country, Korea - where lead Daniel Henney is well known - and other Asian markets. The rest of the international marketplace will be a tougher sell.
Henney (whose Hollywood credits include X-Men Origins: Wolverine) plays Sam, a handsome and ambitious Asian-American attorney who reluctantly accepts a temporary job in Shanghai. Feeling, in spite of his ancestry, like a fish out of water, Sam takes on a tricky copyright case involving an American businessman and starts a romance with a well integrated American ex pat (played by Eliza Coupe, from What’s Your Number?). Subplots take in the love life of Sam’s new assistant (Chinese actress/model Zhu Zhu) and the business life of another American transplant (Twister’s Bill Paxton).
Making his debut as a feature writer-director, TV scribe Daniel Hsia gives the film an attractive look and lively style, finds some humour in the clashing preconceptions of Westerners and Easterners and punctuates the action with broader comedy moments.
But the film never quite sells its central romance and its apparent efforts to glamourise Shanghai and put the Chinese way of business in a positive light - the plot’s copyright villain isn’t who it first appears to be - often feel clumsy.
Production companies: China Film Co, Manifest Film
US sales: Preferred Content, www.preferredcontent.net
International sales: Aldamisa International, www.aldamisa.com
Producer: Janet Yang
Executive producers: Xia Zheng, Zhao Uting
Presenter: Han Sanping
Director of photography: Armando Salas
Production designer: Yu Baiyang
Editor: Pamela March
Costume designer: Wang Haiyan
Music: Klaus Badelt & Christopher Carmichael
Website: www.shanghaicalling.com
Main cast: Daniel Henney, Eliza Coupe, Geng Le, Zhu Zhu, Alan Ruck, Bill Paxton
Screen Daily
May 9, 2012
May 9, 2012 [HKMDB Daily News]
NYTimes: AMC Said to Be Talking to Chinese Buyer
THR: Chinese Exhibitor Eyes Acquisition of All or Part of AMC Entertainment
A deal with Wanda Group, one of the country’s largest movie theater chains, would bring China’s growing interaction with Hollywood to a new level.
CF: Character Posters for “On My Way” Released
Yang Mi (Sina)
CF: ”11 Flowers” Opens in France
CF: ”Fairytale Killer” Premieres in Beijing
After portraying numerous police roles throughout his career, Sean Lau commented upon the unique nature of his latest character. “I’ve never portrayed such a ‘bad’ policeman before; I dare not even let my mom watch the film,” joked Lau when referring to his performance in “Fairytale Killer.”
Danny Pang
Elanne Kong
Lau Ching-Wan
Lau Ching-Wan, Elanne Kong, Wang Baoqiang (Sina)
CF: Mainland Box Office Chart for Week 17
“Titanic” 3D continued to sweep the competition at mainland boxoffice, maintaining the top spot for a third week in a row.
Concept poster for Gordon Chan’s wuxia film “The Four”
The film’s cast includes Deng Chao, Ronald Cheng, Liu Yifei, Collin Chou and Anthony Wong
Liu Yifei
Collin Chou
Ronald Cheng
Deng Chao (Sina)
Andy Lau proud father of baby girl
Press camping outside hospital after reports that Andy Lau and wife, Carol Chu, entered hospital
Jordan Chan uploaded photo of baby thought to be Andy’s new baby girl (Sina), 2
MSN: Is Cecilia Cheung and Nicholas Tse reconciling?
It seemed like Cecilia’s change of stance in the recent months, admitting that she was wrong in the past, is working for the actress as “their relationship is less strained now, and Nicholas would stay over with the intention of taking care of Lucas.”
The mainland’s biggest micro-blogging platform, Sina Weibo, has asked its 300-million users to sign an agreement not to make postings that “threaten social stability”. The company said it would delete the accounts of all users who do not comply.
May 7, 2012
May 7, 2012 [HKMDB Daily News]
Yim Ho’s upcoming film “Floating City” is set to hit cinemas nationwide on May 18.
Based on a true story, “To My Wife” is about famous couple Lin Juemin and Chen Ying, played by actors Tong Dawei and Xu Qing, respectively, at the beginning of 20th century, while at the same time tells the story of a film crew shooting a movie about the couple.
Vincent Zhao, Yang Mi
Yang Mi (Sina)
A wave of filmmakers from China and Hong Kong, including chopsocky legend Jackie Chan, are spending more time than ever shooting in France — lured there by some of the world’s most recognizable icons as they also take advantage of juicy incentives.
CF: Brigitte Lin Says No to Jay Chou’s New Movie
A previous report said Chou invited Lin to join the sequel of his piano-themed movie “Secret.” But the actress told the media at the event that she declined the invitation.
“Motorway” concept poster unveiled in Beijing yesterday
Anthony Wong
Shawn Yue, Anthony Wong, direcotr Soi Cheang Pou-Soi (Sina)
The feature film in the ‘4+1 series’ produced by Pang Ho-Cheung and co-directed by Derek Tsang and Jimmy Wan Chi-Man will finally be released this June (originally scheduled for Aug.2011 as “Lacuna”). Starring Shawn Yue and Zhang Jingchu, the pair try to remember what happened prior to waking up together after one drunken night. The project began in 2010 as four interlocking short films starring Zhou Xun, Stanley Huang, Laurence Chou as well as Shawn Yue and Zhang Jingchu. Previously: [7.13.2011], [12.4.2010]
The father of two was spotted with his ex-wife at their eldest son’s meet-the-parents session on Saturday
Cecilia’s mother attending the recent Lady GaGa concert
May 4, 2012
May 4, 2012 [HKMDB Daily News]
ChinaPost: They love and they bluff
“Love in the Buff” is a revelation on the sophistication of romantic relationships in urban Hong Kong and mainland China today.
CF: ”Motorway” Due to Release in Summer
Produced by Johnny To and directed by Pou-Soi Cheang, “Motorway” features talent from the mainland, HK and Taiwan, including Anthony Wong, Shawn Yue, Michelle Ye, Ka Tung Lam, Barbie Hsu and Guo Xiaodong.
CF: Exorcist Falls in Love with a Demon in “Painted Skin 2″
Feng Shaofeng portrays a little-known exorcist who accidentally comes across a demon played by Yang Mi, and he falls in love with her.
Wang Baoqiang, who made a name for himself for his honest and simple performance, portrays a psychopath killer in the movie.
Stills of Angelababy and Mark Chao from the shooting of the MV for “The First Time” theme song.
Maggie Cheung, Gigi Leung and other celebrities helped open a new LV boutique in the Taipei 101 skyscraper last night.
MSN: Mark Chao’s parents do not approve of his marriage plans
It looks like Mark Chao might have to delay his marriage plans with Gao Yuan Yuan. The actor’s father, Allen Chao, apparently does not approve of his future daughter-in-law.
May 3, 2012
May 3, 2012 [HKMDB Daily News]
CF: Release Date of “To Forgive” Announced
“To Forgive” is a story about a doctor, portrayed by Yu Xiaowei, who loses consciousness after a car accident and wakes up on a remote island.
Following the film’s screening at the 19th Beijing College Student Film Festival (BCSFF), “To Forgive” will be shown at the Festival de Cannes which opens at the end of May.
“To Forgive” poster
Law Kar-Ying joked that due to his facial paralysis he acted with only half his face.
The film is about how several senior citizens try to escape from a retirement home and pursue their dreams.
“Old people also have their own dreams,” said Zhang Huaxun, who is also the director’s father. “Not only should they live happily, but live with dreams.”
Due to the strong performance of Hollywood blockbusters, local flicks screening in the same time slots hardly survived in boxoffice market.
Audiences can expect brutal torture scenes in Danny Pang’s “Fairy Tale Killer”
Lam Suet on the receiving end
Lau Ching-Wan investigates
Wang Baoqiang - the torturer (Sina)
Stills from Yim Ho’s “Floating City”
Charlie Young
Charlie Young, Aaron Kwok
Aaron Kwok
Paw Hee-Ching, Aaron Kwok
Annie Liu, Aaron Kwok (Sina)
MV: Angelababy sings the theme song for “The First Time”, co-starring Mark Chao
Song composed by Jay Chou
Last night, Huang Yi sang “Wings” at an event commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Youth League
Anthony Wong with his mother, who suffered a stroke earlier this year (Sina)
More celebrity sightings at last night’s Lady GaGa concert
Richie Jen
Carol “Dodo” Cheng
Jennifer Tse Ting-Ting
Kenny Bee, Qi Qi, Simon Yam
Fans (Sina-slideshow)
MSN: Is love in the air for Edison Chen?
MSN: Are Nicholas Tse and Cecilia Cheung getting back together?
May 2, 2012
May 2, 2012 [HKMDB Daily News]
CF: Theme Song of “Shadows of Love” Released
Kwon Sang-Woo, Cecilia Cheung
CF: ”Du Zhan” [Drug War] Wraps up in Beijing
Jointly-produced by the Hong Kong film production company Milkway Image and mainland company HaiRun Movies & TV, the movie marked Johnny To’s first attempt at filming a gangster film on the mainland, touring cities like Tianjin, Guangzhou and Zhuhai.
Andy Ng’s suspense-thriller “Death Zone” opens this month. The cast includes Leon Jay Williams, Chen Zihan, Niu Meng-Meng, Lee Siu-Kei, Patrick Tam and Liu Hai-Long. The film was shot in the mountainous jungles of Yunnan and Thailand.
Lee Siu-Kei
Chen Zihan, Leon Jay Williams
Patrick Tam, Niu Meng-Meng
Wei Lu, Liu Hai-Long (”He Man 2″, “Choy Lee Fut”)
Wang Baoqiang plays a serial killer in Danny Pang’s “Fairy Tale Killer”. Lau Ching-Wan finds clues in his son’s fairy tale book. Opens May 11.
Wang Baoqiang
Lady Gaga
So, Lady Gaga performs in concert in Hong Kong. Who would you expect to attend?
Edison Chen and Lady Gaga’s mama
Carina Lau
Brigitte Lin
Simon Yam, Qi Qi, Brigitte Lin
Simon, wife and daughter
Jennifer Tse Ting-Ting (Sina)
May 1, 2012
May 1, 2012 [HKMDB Daily News]
Poster for Yim Ho’s “Floating City”
The cast, minus Charlie Young, took some publicity stills
Aaron Kwok, Annie Liu
Director Yim Ho, Annie Liu, Paw Hee-Ching, Aaron Kwok, Calvin Cheng
Calving Cheng, Aaron Kwok (Sina), (Sina-gallery)
Leon Yang Shu-Peng’s “An Inaccurate Memoir” includes a shootout in an underground tunnel between Huang Xiaoming and Japanese soldiers featuring one 3-minute long continuous shot. It was designed and shot by director of photograhpy Cao Yu (”City of Life and Death”).
Yang Shu-Peng (Sina), (HunanTV), 2
Elanne Kong plays Wang Baoqiang’s lover, a bullied girl with autism who grew up in an orphanage in Oxide Pang’s “Fairy Tale Killer (”Perfect Fairy Tale”)
Wang Baoqiang, Elanne Kong
Danny Pang’s “Fairy Tale Killer” has been compared to “Saw”. Netizens compared images and noted similarities.
Gigi Leung is in Taipei rehearsing for her May 5th concert
Gigi Leung
Maggie Cheung flew from Beijing to Taiwan and was rushed to customs
Rockin’ her Dr. Dre Beats



























































































